CHAPTER TWELVE
Mike was actually nervous. It had been a long time since he was nervous around a woman. But he hadn't ever met a woman quite like Jesse Baker before. They walked slowly back towards his quarters in the cold night air. She was still shivering so he pulled his top uniform shirt off and gave it to her. She had smiled at his gesture, and that smile cut right to his heart.
They hadn't said anything to each other since leaving the bench, but they didn't need to. The silence was comfortable and calming. Mike wrapped his arm around her waist, his hand gripping lightly on her hip. The closer they got to his quarters the more nervous he got. He half expected her to bid him goodnight and continue walking.
But when they got to the door, she stayed right by his side, as he unlocked it. Once the door was open, he held his arm out and let her enter first. She went in and looked around briefly before settling on his couch. He put his keys and wallet in their spots, so he wouldn't lose them, and then walked over and slowly sat down next to her on the couch. He watched Jesse curl her legs up under her body and sit half facing him. He felt unsure of what to do next.
"So now what?" she asked, and Mike laughed softly. He was thinking the same thing. He sucked in a deep breath through his nose and smiled. Part of his brain said talk to her, but the other part said, kiss her. He shifted his body and leaned over, kissing her softly with just lips.
When he broke away from her, her eyes were afire with passion. Mike quirked a cocky smile and Jesse scooted closer, practically climbing in his lap. Mike settled back against the couch and stretched his legs out in front of him. They were staring at each other but neither had made the first move. Finally, he sucked in a breath as she straddled his hips and sat on his lap.
She leaned down and they kissed again, fiery and deep. Mike felt her grind her hips down against his and his body reacted immediately. He felt her smile against his kiss. His hands were on her ribs gripping gently. Her hands were on his shoulders holding herself upright. They continued their exploration of mouths for a while, then Jesse broke away from his mouth and kissed down his jaw. When she bit him, his eyes rolled back in their sockets and his hips pushed up into her.
He stripped his top shirt off of her that she was still wearing and clawed needily at her t-shirt underneath. Once it was off, he leaned forward and kissed her neck, sucking at her pulse point. His hands slid from her ribs to her breasts, and he felt her rock needily against his cock. Mike wanted more. He stood abruptly, scooping her up with him.
She shrieked in surprise from his sudden move and then laughed. Mike held her to him and carried her to his bed. He laid her down flat on the mattress and slowly crawled over top of her, kissing a trail up her body as he went. She reached down and unfastened her jeans and started to wiggle out of them.
Mike grabbed the tops and helped her peal them down, he then leaned in and kissed her hips bones and a line down to her inner thigh. He listened to her sigh in contented pleasure. He pulled her panties down and off, leaving her in just a bra. Sitting on his knees straddling over her, he sat up straight and took his shirt off and tossed it aside. Jesse sat up and her lips crushed against his as her hands went to his belt.
They worked together to get his pants and boxers off then Jesse laid back against the mattress and stretched her arms over her head. Mike slowly stretched himself out, so he was completely hovering above her and stilled himself. Jesse smiled up at him, one of her hands coming to the back of his head. Mike studied her in that moment and his heart swelled.
"You're beautiful," he whispered as he dropped his head down and kissed her slow and sensual. Her hips rocked up as she pressed her core into his erection and Mike smiled against her lips.
He lined himself up and pushed in. Jesse let a sigh of pleasure out as her eyes closed. Mike started to move, slow and rhythmic letting the sensations roll through his body. This time they took their time, slow and explorative. It wasn't frantic and needy like the time in the gym. As Mike felt his orgasm nearing his thrusts lost rhythm and his mind lost the ability to focus. When he exploded inside her he grunted and thrusted a few more times before he collapsed against the top of her. He felt her hand ruffling through his hair, as he settled his ear against her chest, listening to her heart hammer away.
An hour later Mike was sitting against the headboard with his knees bent. Jesse was sitting straddling his hips facing him leaning against his thighs, her legs stretched out along his sides, his hands resting gently on his chest. Mike was content, it was the happiest he had been in a very long time.
"Tell me about yourself," Mike said. Jesse seemed to blush a little as she looked away from him. She looked back at him after a moment.
"What do you want to know?"
"Where'd you grow up?"
"I was born in Northern Indiana, raised in a small town called Hudson Lake."
"Where's that by?"
"Do you know where Notre Dame is?"
"Yeah, South Bend."
"I was about twenty-five minutes west of South Bend."
"We were close to each other," Mike mused.
"Where were you from?"
"Chicago."
"Big city boy," Jesse said with a smile.
"I hated the city," Mike said with a laugh. "But you don't get to choose where your born and raised."
"No, I suppose not."
"Did you go straight to the Army out of high school?"
"I did. My dad hated it," Jesse said, and Mike could see and hear the sadness in the statement. He reached out and took her hand in his.
"Were you close to your dad?" Mike asked. He could tell he hit a sore spot before her eyes fell and her body tensed a little. He squeezed her hand. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
"No, it's okay, it's just…yeah. I was close to my dad. He didn't like me going into such a dangerous profession. But he eventually got over it and was proud of me."
"Dads are like that," Mike said as flashes of his own children floated through his mind.
"I was in the Army for a bit, did my one tour and got out."
"Afghanistan?"
"Yes," Jesse said but didn't elaborate. Mike just nodded not pushing.
"When I got out, I was introduced to Tex Nolan who recruited me to work for the company he was working for. My sergeant thought I'd be a good fit for them."
"And were you?"
"Skill set wise? Yes. Very good fit. But," Jesse said cutting off. Mike watched as her eyes clouded to a faraway memory.
"But," Mike interjected. "Not personally."
"No. I didn't find joy in the work. So, I finished the job I signed on for and then cut my contract. Tex tried desperately to convince me to stay, but I'd just met James."
"Meeting someone can make you make different choices."
"And he did. He was so sweet. It was a whirlwind romance and we got married fairly quickly. But it was right. We loved each other," Jesse said as tears came to her eyes. Mike sat forward and wrapped her in his arms. She cried into his shoulder for a moment before she pulled away. Mike settled back against the headboard.
"Hunter came ten months after we got married. He was the perfect little baby boy," she said. Mike could feel the sadness radiating off her. He reached up and gently pulled her arm, so she slid off his hips, and settled down next to him on the bed. He wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her temple.
"Babies can be like that. I remember the first time I held my eldest daughter, Katie," Mike said, the happy memory flooding his senses.
"I only got to hold him for six months. So many people got sick and died. Hunter, he just…it was terrible to watch," Jesse whispered. Mike felt the crushing pain.
"My son was the first to die," Mike said. "I found out by telephone while still in the artic on the Nathan James. Christine was so angry with me for not being there, not supporting them through that."
"It wasn't your fault," Jesse said.
"In a way, I suppose. But in another way, it was. I could have taken the desk job in Miami, but I wanted a shot at command. I wanted to be at sea. I don't really know what happened to Katie and Hannah, but I eventually found out my wife was dead. I can only assume my daughters died too."
"That's a hard reality to carry," Jesse said as she kissed his jaw. Mike nodded. He shifted so he was on his side and looking at her. He reached out and ran his fingers over her short hair, settling it on her shoulder when he was done.
"Are we okay now?" he asked, holding his breath.
"I think so," she whispered.
"You think so?" Mike said with a chuckle. It wasn't the answer he was expecting.
"I'm sorry I hurt you like that. Fight or flight took hold, and it was either run away or punch you in the face."
"Well, I guess thanks for running and not punching," Mike said with a sigh. Jesse smiled at him, and he felt it through his core.
"It was never my intention to hurt you when I ran. I was just scared I think."
"Scared of what?"
"Of intimacy with strings attached."
"Love?" Mike asked as he leaned in closer. Jesse's breathing hitched a little.
"Maybe," she said softly as her hand came up against the scruff on his jaw. Mike nodded understanding her hesitancy in the moment.
"Are you willing to give me a chance?" Mike asked with hope. He watched as Jesse studied his face.
"I think so," Jesse replied with a smile. Mike shook his head.
"You're so decisive," he said teasingly. Jesse laughed. Mike leaned down and kissed her slow and lazily.
"So, what now?" Jesse asked. Mike leaned back onto the pillow and Jesse settled her head on his chest. Her fingers were tracing shapes on his pecks.
"We see how long we can stand each other," Mike said with a smile. Jesse picked her head up and arched an eyebrow at him. He laughed.
"Seriously?"
"No," Mike said quietly. He rolled onto his side and hooked his leg over her hip. "Now, we ride the wave as long as we can. I can't make any promises, Jesse, but like I said, I like you a lot."
"Like me a lot, huh?"
"More than a like," Mike said in a whisper as he dropped his head and kissed her neck.
"How does this affect work?" she asked, her voice catching as he sucked at her skin on her neck. Mike paused. He knew there was going to be issues with a relationship, since she was his underling. He sighed as he dropped his head back to the pillow and closed his eyes.
"I'm not sure," Mike said. "We'll figure something out, even if I have to retire."
"Slattery," Jesse said in a warning tone. "You can't do that just because of me."
"What if I want to?" Mike said his eyes still closed. Jesse didn't answer him, and he opened one eye to look at her. She was staring at him with a bewildered look. "What?"
"You'd actually retire just so you could be with me?"
"I've thought about it," Mike said honestly. Jesse's jaw dropped. "These feelings didn't just develop because you kicked my ass in the gym and I got horny," Mike said. Her jaw dropped further.
"Holy shit, Slattery," Jesse finally said. "You got a way with words."
"What?" Mike said with a smile.
"What are we talking here?"
"I'm talking about retiring from the Navy and settling down in a nice neighborhood with a beautiful woman."
"You've thought about a future with me?" Jesse asked holding back tears.
"I've been thinking about you since you walked into the conference room to sign a contract, Jesse," Mike said being honest. She'd been on his mind for a while now, and yes, he'd thought about a future with her.
She leaned over and pressed her face into the crook of his neck, wrapping her arms around his torso. Mike wrapped his arms around her in return and they held each other for a long time. Mike thought she had fallen asleep as he was starting to drowse a little himself when a knock at the door garnered his attention.
"Tell them to go away," Jesse mumbled against his throat and Mike chuckled.
"I have to get up, Babe," Mike said regrettably. Jesse gave a sigh and loosened her arms, as he slid from the other side of the bed. Mike threw on some pants and a shirt as he made his way to the door. He opened it halfway, using his body to block the view into the room. Tex was standing there with a suspicious look on his face as Mike didn't move.
"Help you, Tex?" Mike asked. Tex tried to look around Mike, but Mike's bigger frame prevented it.
"Uh, yeah. Knight's causing a ruckus at the barracks. Says he's gunning for you for protecting the bitch instructor," Tex said crossing his arms over his chest. "Gavin and Pete are trying to cool him off."
Great, Mike thought. That's the last thing he needed tonight. He thought his talk with the kid in the infirmary would have been enough. He rubbed a hand over his face.
"Okay, I'll come over and face the kid."
"Right on, Admiral. By the way you seen Second Place?"
"I'm sure she's fine, Tex," Mike said noncommittedly. Tex smiled and nodded.
"I'm sure she is," Tex replied and then left. Mike shut the door and went to get his uniform on. If he was going to face the kid, he was going to do it officially. He walked into his bedroom and started to get dressed. Jesse sat up in the bed.
"Who was that?" she asked yawning.
"Tex," Mike said as he tied one of his boots.
"You're leaving," she said. Mike looked over his shoulder at her.
"Yes, I'm sorry. There's an issue in the barracks I need to address."
"Issue in the barracks," Jesse said suspiciously. "What's going on?"
"Knight," Mike said with a sigh.
"Is it about me?" she asked. Mike paused in his getting ready. He turned his upper body and leaned onto the bed.
"Yes, actually it is. He's been trying to log a formal complaint about you. I thought I had him convinced not to but seems like he's adamant."
"We can settle it," Jesse said with a shrug and Mike gave her a quizzical look.
"Let him challenge me in the ring. Full contact, hand to hand combat."
"No," Mike said sternly. Jesse pursed her lips.
"Why?"
"Someone will get hurt."
"I'll be fine, I can take care of myself."
"Who said I was worried you'd be the one hurt?"
"Then I'm coming with you now," Jesse said as she started to get up from Mike's bed. Mike growled in frustration.
"Stop, what are you doing?"
"His beef is with me, I'm gonna go face him."
"His beef is with my threat."
"You threatened him?" Jesse said the smile growing wider on her face. Mike blushed a little. "Awe, you did."
"I just told him he may not like the eyewitness accounts that would be collected."
"Mainly yours," Jesse said seductively, and Mike sighed. She leaned over and kissed his jaw.
"I saw him provoke you, that's what I would report."
"He did more than provoke me. Did you actually hear what he said to me?"
"No. I did not," Mike said with gritted teeth. He had a feeling he was not going to like what the asshole had said. "What did he say to you?"
"You really want to know? I don't know how pissed it will make you."
"Jesse," Mike said warningly. He needed to get moving or Tex was going to come back.
"He called me a cunt, told me he'd take me down and have his way with me."
"What the fuck," Mike breathed out, as anger flared through him. "He said that?"
"Well, that's the nice version," Jesse said with a shrug of her shoulders. "So, I kicked his ass, well, started too anyway. Then this guy grabbed me and pulled me away."
"Yeah," Mike said. "I have to go deal with this then I'll be back."
"Okay, but I'm still coming too. It's my battle."
"Jesse, please stay here until I get back," Mike said pleadingly. Jesse smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
"No promises," she said with a laugh. Mike groaned and stood up, heading for the door.
To Be Continued…